Antelope Island

Antelope Island

	Antelope Island
Location:	Utah
Nearest Town:	Layton, Clearfield
Directions to Trailhead:	Take Antelope Drive off the I-15 and head west. There will be a fee to cross the causeway, 5 bucks per carload.
Trail Description:	21 miles of riding. 6 miles of doubletrack, the rest is singletrack
Trail Length:	21 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack & Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Trails for all skill levels
Web Link:	http://www.utahbiking.com
Submitted By:	Alex

Bk from SLC, Utah Date: April 8, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: None Other recommended trails in the same area: Bonneville-Shoreline or take the drive to Moab
Review: These trails are a huge waste of time and money ($8 per car). They allow horses to use the same trails as mtn. bikes, which turns muddy sections into giant unrideable bogs and dry sections into teeth-loosening washboards. No fun at all, even on my Sugar fully. Don't waste your time, go to the Bonneville-Shoreline Trail.	Overall Rating:

John Christensen from Syracuse UT Date: March 1, 2002 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: havent found a good one. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: don't ride too often, too rocky and sandy! Ride when there's snow in the mountains.	Overall Rating:

Kevin Krause from West Point UT Date: January 29, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: I like splirock bay loop or ride to Mormon Rocks and then back to finish the main loop. The new trail (11 miles) to the ranchhouse is also good. Other recommended trails in the same area: Wheeler Creek to snobasin and back. Bonniville Shorline.
Review: I ride the Island for exercise, and enjoy the view and animals. I have seen Bison, antelope, deer, bighorn sheep and many smaller animals. The only complaints I have are the horses turning the trail into a 20 ft wide mudbog in the spring, and then yelling at the bike riders, and the insects at sunset during the summer months. I think the trails are easy except for a few spots. I have gotten very good at riding through sand. This is a great naural trail area undeveloped and close to many in the Wasatch front.	Overall Rating:

Dennis R from Las Vegas, NV Date: October 23, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Split Fork Loop either way, be sure to catch Elephant Head extension. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Intermediate technical skills are required with some advanced skills in two places on Elephant Head. The climbs are long and can tax your aerobic abilities. Rocky terrain above the lake and at lake level it can have spots of sand that can be cleaned. I recommend tires that work well on loose stuff. The ride starts out on singletrack and then joins several miles of doubletrack. Still a fun section. At the first real climb to the ridge, it becomes singletrack and stays that way until you are on the return leg. This trail has it all. Steep climbs, descents, switchbacks, rocky dropoffs/steps and great views. The Bison can make the ride even more exciting. Give them a wide berth. They can run over 35 mph.	Overall Rating:

Koni Christensen from Sunset, Utah Date: May 30, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: There are many routes to choose from depending on skill and level of endurance. While I was riding I seen families with grade-school-age children and obvious experts on the main trails. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The causeway is seven miles of double lane riding along the shore of the Great Salt Lake. If the wind is blowing your in luck, if not bugs may be an issue along with an occasional fowl smell. I recommend wearing a bandana over your face for that stretch. Once inside the park, bugs are not an issue unless you get close to the shore (some trails take you there). I recommend mosquito repellant. The ride is pleasant, some uphill work is involved but nothing terrible. I took the White Rock Bay loop because time was an issue for us that day. It is a dirt road that goes downhill to the lake and campgrounds and back up again. Nice short ride. From causeway to White Rock Bay and back is about 23 miles. Nice ride!	Overall Rating:

Cameron Lloyd from Tucson, AZ Date: May 1, 2001 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: After getting on the island follow signs to the camping area. Park there and take the left trail. You can go either way but the left way is a longer smoother descent after the hard climb. Going left is soft, sandy and there are some spots where you almost have to hike, but when you get to the top and can look out and see from Brigham City almost all the way to SLC from the top. Other recommended trails in the same area: Wheeler Creek, Skyline trail, Mueller Park
Review: Sweet trail rarely used by mountain bikers. It is really soft and rocky is some spots but well worth it. You have to be really careful of horses. There are large groups that ride their horses there and they get pissed at the bikers. To even better your ride you can take the Elephant Head trail. On your way down (if you take the trail to the left at the start) you will come to what looks like a regular park bench by the trail. That is the start of elephant head. It is a good trail. Make sure to do the Island in the late spring when the trail is packed down and is not dusty. If you like to ride in AZ this is the same type of riding.	Overall Rating:

Gusman from Cheyenne, WY Date: July 25, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Garr-Fielding Ranch Trail Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This single track trail follows the southside of the island. It is an 11.5 mile trip to the ranch and very scenic (23 miles total). I came across buffalo, antelope and big horn sheep when I rode it. The first section has some tschnical areas but the rest is rather smooth. There is a area at the ranch to take a break and enjoy the history of the island. Also a good place to rehydrate. I went through 100 oz in the first half but it was 101 degrees that afternoon and then another 100 oz on the way back. Was glad they had water there. It is a good place to keep your skills sharp but not too exciting. And the cost is $7 to cross the causeway now.	Overall Rating:

Derek Telleson from Huntsville, UT USA Date: May 5, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: I Like to take the White Rock loop. It has all kinds of terrian and techinal skills. Depending whether you start going left or right at the trail head you will still expience equal amount of uphill or downhill. I like to mix it up a bit and get different types of climbing and downhill terrian. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: I love everypart of this trail except the fact that they are horses on this trail and you have to give way to them. Some parts of this trail and very sandy because of these horses. I would recommend for a casual ride to but some big nobby tires on because there are a lot of loose stuff. But if you want to race this bad boy you could easily make it with a pair of semi-slick and still be okay. there are some spots where you could if not careful kill you tubes and tires because of some sharp rocks. This is a awesome trail to go out on and just relax or race with some buddies. I think that any skill level can handle this trail. the lower-end riders might have to walk in a couple of places but other than that you should be okay.	Overall Rating:

Ken Mayes from Clinton, Utah, USA Date: April 22, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Go straight out to "Mormon Rocks" Other recommended trails in the same area: Do the Beacon Knob-it's high speed down.
Review: Ride straight out to Mormon Rocks, and you'll find a ripping descent down to white rock bay. From there, you'll quickly descend into split rock bay. If you need it, they provide you with a map at the gate that designates all of the trails. It's an easy ride, but fun-two of my buddies ripped themselves open on the backside of the island doing about 40 or 45. (hardtails)	Overall Rating:

Beau from Orem Date: April 16, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The first 3 miles of the trail are sandy. The wheel slips a lot but if you keep going west than you have a climb and than its mostly downhill and switchbacking. YOu then come to a crest and you can choose weather to turn around or to go on down to a shallow incline for about 2.5 miles. The switchbacking is about 5 miles. When you get to the top fo that trail than you can choose to go left or right; left is to a bluff; right is down hill for about 5 miles, than you come to the trailhead.	Overall Rating:

Allan from SLC Date: March 27, 2000 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Get on your bike at the end of the dike. stay right. At the first campground go right around the tip along the shore. Great technical single track. Then at the end of that take the next trail and stay right. don't bother with the loop. Make it an out and back. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The first part of this ride along the shore was awesome with tons of technical rock hopping. Great get local getaway during the winter months. The second half is VERY HORSEY. Read... churned muddy trail. But doable when winter is around and there aren't that many local options. The park service people here ride mountain bikes and are very bike friendly. A different trend that is nice to see.	Overall Rating:

SheepShagger from Manti, Utah Date: March 10, 2000 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Hang a right on the south end of the double track loop to get onto the single track. The single track out to Black Rock is pretty sweet. Other recommended trails in the same area: Great road ride across the dike to warm up for the trail. It's also cheaper to pay for a bike than it is for a vehicle.
Review: No major climbing or descending. However this trail is rideable most of the year when there is no snow in the valleys. Great early in the year ride when you are itching to get out in the spring. There are a lot of nats in early summer.	Overall Rating: